Is it possible to get engaged on the cheap?

Ah, love is in the air. I can tell by all the couples who are looking apprehensive and frightened, and all the singles who are declaring that V Day is commercial crap that they want no part in. Sunday will probably bring its fair share of proposals, and with it, a lot of financial decisions. You’re in love, you want the world to witness it- but can you do it on the cheap?

I’ve actually had my first official involvement in an engagement recently. As bridesmaid, you become privy to the mounting pressures and costs as you get engaged. There’s not just the wedding to think of. There’s the ring, the shower, the engagement party and hen’s night.

There are the deposits on cars, dresses, venues, flowers, cakes. The cost of being engaged was a whole idea I had never appreciated until now. But surely there is a way of partaking in this wonderful ritual without bankrupting yourselves and your respective families?

Ring it in

There are millions of guides to buying engagement rings cheaply online, this one being particularly concise. There’s nothing revolutionary about what the articles tell you- set yourself a budget, understand what type of ring you would like and then go shopping. Ensure you check eBay and Amazon, as well as jewellers. The perfect ring might be floating around somewhere, undiscovered, just waiting for you to turn it up. The most important thing is that you buy a ring that can be worn every day for the rest of your partner’s life- whether it’s flashy or simple, it has to be wearable.

Proposal props

This article not only covers the ins and outs of diamond rings, it also has some very useful advice on proposal styles, empirically proven and everything. Apparently the five least favourite types of proposals are: cheap proposals (whatever that means), hiding the ring in food, proposing in public, ‘clumsy’ proposals and mentioning marriage in passing. Whew.

What does that list leave? Only the perfect proposal will do it seems. Pardon me for being unromantic, but I don’t think money has anything to do with a proposal. Sincerity is worth a whole lot more than an expensive dinner. You’re going to spending enough money over the engagement, save your pennies at the proposal and just keep it simple stupid.

Party time

While a recent addition to the wedding circuit, engagement parties are the norm these days and pose their own problems. Do you invite the entire guest list of the wedding to the engagement party, or keep it intimate? Do you make it a big deal, or just a little celebration before the festivities start?

The more intimate and relaxed you can make your engagement party, the more money you will save. There’s no need for a big, formal occasion- there’ll be plenty of time for that at the wedding. Why not just have finger food in your parent’s backyard if it’s sunny, and invite your nearest and dearest? Book a table at your favourite bar and put a bit of money on the tab.

How do you plan to keep your engagement on budget?

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